Daughter has had Max for almost 2 years. When he first arrived she was a confident rider and although he had a few nappy issues in the early weeks, they flew and he was great. He still had a tendency to get sticky feet but she had the tools to correct him and the confidence to ride him firmly forward at any hint of napping. So she headed problems off before they escalated. Last April when Spring grass came through he went through a bit of a nightmare phase for 2 or 3 weeks - threw in some major strops - rearing, bronccing, tanking off. She became really frightened by him and he was ridden by me and her RI instead for a few weeks. When she got back on he was back to normal and we took things right back to basics with her as she was very nervous. But he was fine and within a few weeks she had regained confidence and they began to jump again. Then they went to summer camp and had a brilliant time. After that she did some eventing towards the end of the season doing really well. Then show jumped well all winter, winning and being placed up to 90cm. This Spring exactly the same thing happened and he went through a rearing, bronccing, tanking off phase. Unfortunately she was on a pony club senior camp in April so instead of backing off while he was spring-silly she was way out of her comfort zone. Camp was a disaster and her confidence went through the floor. But by May he was again back to normal and she did a few more SJ events with him successfully. But as his behaviour was so bad on the XC field at camp in a group, she has got it into her head that he's crazy XC and she won't ride him effectively. I have competed him a few times and he is fine. And when I take her for 1:1 XC schooling he is fine but as soon as it's an event or a group she freezes and he plays up.They had their annual sunmer camp weekend just gone. Last year they had a brilliant time at camp and just jumped all sorts of crazy fences! This year within 5 minutes of the first session she was in tears, hanging into his mouth, refusing to put her leg on. And he hadn't really even done anything wrong! It became clear just how far backwards she has gone in a year. She is a fab little rider but just not a confident one once the doubts are there which they very much are with him.I am not sure we can come back from it a third time. Firstly because she is riding so badly as the nerves are cripping her. And secondly because he has learnt he can walk all over her. So napping used to be a little bit of silliness which was nipped in the bud whereas now with her it's a straightforward evasion and his behaviour is getting worse with her. Not with others though.I think it is time to call it a day. She agreed with that while at camp as she was too scared to get back on him outside of the arena. But now she is home she hasn't stopped crying and wants to keep going with him. All her instructors (at home and at camp) agree the partnership is not working and she would do better with a different pony. I could send him away for some XC schooling but it's her riding that is the bigest problem so I doubt that would help. He will still test her out again from time to time and she will freeze and stop being effective which is bad for both of them.Any advice?
07-02-2018, 01:16 PM
Difficult Decision....
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